1 I go looking when it gets too quiet

This morning I stayed in bed as long as my bladder would let me.  I am just so tired even though I’m in the ‘energetic’ middle trimester.  I crawled out of bed when the screaming got too much; from my bladder, stomach, and from the girls.  However, by the time I finished in the bathroom, the house was quiet so I went right to breakfast.  I enjoyed my frosted flakes in peace but then got an uneasy feeling about what the girls might be up to.  It didn’t take long to find them.  There were in their room watching movies on their travel DVD players.  What smarty pants to set them up all by themselves…although it is a no-no in our house.  I snapped this picture and shut the door.  Time to get in a few hours of work.  We’ll start on our morning routine and chores later.

0 Finding a new normal

After Nate’s slow winter last year, we decided to try something different this year.  Nate stayed home more and I increased my work load (from 30 hr/wk to 40 hr/wk) on campus.  Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I put in 10-12 hour days on campus (crashing in the evenings) while Nate took care of the girls and housework.  Tuesdays and Thursdays Nate worked while I stayed home (still putting in 5-6 hours of work). 

Now that its spring Nate’s work is picking up and I’ve dropped back down to 30 hr/wk, staying at home all but Mondays.  I have been really surprised by how loving my girls have been to me.  They’ve been all cuddles and hugs throughout the day.  We’ve been loving the nice weather.  Here’s some pic’s from our neighborhood park. 

We’ve also been working on a ‘new normal’.  I’ve made the girls sticker charts to set up chores.  Its been fun to see the girls learning to do new things and take responsibility.  They LOVE to help with the dishes and laundry.  Its not been all roses; Allie’s had a cold and Kylie (a.k.a. Cinderella) still has plenty of terrible-two-year-old tantrums. 

 

2 The Neighborhood Bike Gang 2010

Sometime yesterday Kylie finally ‘got’ how to pedal her bike.

She can’t quite keep up with the big kids, but she is quite pleased with herself.

Simon, Lincoln, Allie, Rayden, Alyssa, Jet, Kylie

0 Catching up after a long hiatus

So…after being largely absent from my blog, I’m hoping to be back.  I posted so much tonight, that when you get to the bottom, click on 'older posts' to see the rest.  It wouldn't all fit on one screen!  My pregnancy has calmed down (I’m 22 weeks along) and I’ve dropped from working 100% to 75% now that Nate’s work will pick up with the warming weather. 

• Kylie got into Grandma JoAnne’s lipstick: she’s big enough to know better!

• Allie learned to ride her bike without training wheels.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

• The girls ‘snuck’ the last bit of cookie dough when my back was turned.

 

• The warming weather is music to our ears!

2 First baby picture

A few weeks ago we had our ultrasound and Nate made sure we didn't find out the gender.  It will be a fun surprise.  I am anxious to meet this little bouncing baby of ours!  The due date is officially July 19th, but I'm hoping for sooner rather than later...within healthy reason of course.

1 Photo Highlights of February 2010

• While the Staffords were visiting, we had a Valentines Day party at home. Maren brought an art project (little note pads to decorate with heart animals), we played V-day BINGO and we decorated cupcakes.

• The girls finally filled their WAY-to-big sticker charts so they got their reward: a Strawberry Shortcake pool playset. Notice Kylie’s blue dress…she has worn it over every outfit and PJs for 24 hours, 7 days a week, for over a month.

• One night when we went in to check on the girls before retiring for the night ourselves, we had to look around to find Kylie… what buddies they are. I hope they stay so close in the future.

• While Nate was on his annual ‘BROTHERS GOLF RETREAT’ in St George, the girls and I headed to Rexburg. Grandma Martha helped the girls make paper bag dresses, just like in the book ‘the Paper Bag Princess’. They also got to make cookies with Gma and read books with Gpa.

2 Photo Highlights of January 2010

I didn’t take many pictures this past December – March. This 3rd pregnancy has been so much rougher then the others, plus I’ve been working full time on campus this winter. In the first half I had swine flu, stomach flu, and 3 months of morning sickness around the clock. The good news is that now I’ve gained back the 10 pounds I lost and food tastes good again (in fact I am ravenous all the time now). Baby is growing on track and seems to always be bumping around.

• New Years trip to Rexburg: movie party with cousins, playing in the snow, and cousin Bailey’s baptism. (cousin Lexi was baptized at the exact same time in Idaho Falls, too) Allie & Kylie loved on baby cousin Addie all week; they are excited to have their own baby soon.

• Allie has been teaching Kylie her dance moves during the cold dark winter. I pulled out my first pair of ballet shoes for Kylie to wear and she was tickled. Get ready to laugh at the video clip below.

0 Photo Highlights of December 2009

• Swimming at ‘Hot Lava Springs’ with Uncle Troy, Aunt Heidi, and cousin Aliyah.  Allie is the swimingest bug, but Kylie is still a bit tentative.

• Annual trip to SLC temple square to see the lights.  We’ve been doing this with the Sorensens’ for years.  As is tradition, we ate at the ‘Red Robin’ in Layton first.  This year we got to ride on the Trax Train, too.

• Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpa Schwartz’s home

• Christmas Day at our home.  WE had Troy/Heidi/Aliyah spend the night and open gifts with us.  Then the entire Schwartz clan came for the rest of the day.  It was a full house and pregnant mommy was worn out be the end of the day.